Lebanon Prime Minister Saad Hariri met French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee Palace. Following their meeting Hariri said :
- The French president expressed his country’s willingness to aid the army and Internal Security Forces with light and heavy equipment.
- Sarkozy expressed his full support for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and for achieving justice.
- Credited France for the role it played in improving the Lebanese-Syrian relations, and said what concerns us is a state-to-state relation which benefits both people.
- France wants to hold a peace conference in Paris and that he encouraged Sarkozy about this “because we can’t remain where we are now and because the whole region needs peace.”
France was reportedly worried that providing the Lebanese army with weapons, including missiles for the Gazelle helicopters, could end up in Hezbollah hands. This is exactly the same concern the US has and that is why the US has been very reluctant to provide the army with sophisticated weapons.
The Lebanese Air Force has reportedly used up all its missiles against Fatah al-Islam militants during the battle of Nahr el-Bared in 2007 and for this reason Hariri asked France to provide Lebanon with Gazelle missiles
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has reportedly told the Lebanese delegation that Hezbollah and not Israel is the main danger for Lebanon and that the concerns in Lebanon over an Israeli attack are unjustified .
“Israel is our friend, and if there was a threat to Lebanon, it will only come from a military adventure carried out by Hezbollah in the best interest of Iran,” Kouchner warned.
What an invalid excuse France and the US are using to avoid supplying Lebanon with some weapons. ‘Israel is a friend’, really Kouchner what planet did you come from and do you really believe the lebanese people are that dum not to know who their foes are and have been for decades!!There’s the arms issues now with Hezbolall-Yes, but we have never forgotten our children’s blood spattered over vine and jasmine trees. Thanks France for nothing
I couldn’t agree with you more Dalal, Israel has attacked us six times bringing devestation onto Lebanon and it’s people. Israel day and night now are making provocotive statements about attacking Lebanon which is now supposidly a “legitimate target”, yes, Hizbullah’s unconditional allegance to Iran is an issue but how dare France say our fear of an Israel is unjustified, Israel wants an excuse to attack us and wants our land and water, so Israel is our enemy. Shame on France, Lebanon should not always turn to the west for weapons if this is going to be the response from everyone.
amal you are 100 per cent right but do not blame france or the western world we should blame all the arab for being the dog of western world france or us will not give the lebanese army any weapons which is threat to israel and koshner likr sarkozy are the dogs for united state
Who needs France when we have Hezbollah….
My, my what short memories you all have. Israel has NEVER attacked Lebanon unless Lebanon has either, allowed one or more groups who attack Israeli civilians from her soil to operate or arm.
The hypocrisy shown on a daily basis by the West is disgusting and laughable. It’s their blind support for Israel that allows those racist, war mongering savages to get away with anything, including war crimes! The West was unmasked long ago and their attempts to hide it are quite pathetic.
The west has given military aid to Lebanon many times ..what has Lebanon done with it? Its going into the hands of illegitimate forces..
If we review the history of the middle east,then will remember that the English created the state of Israel.Israel forced the palestinian out of their land.We and the Arab world helped them (palestinian)for a good cause and that is our obligation.The Arab world lost the war.Israel took lands from Egypt jordan and Syria.Egypt and Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel.Israel still occupying the Syrian land.Lebanon left with the palestinian fighting against Israel.The USA has strong interest in the middle east and supporting Israel with all means to establish their influance.USA established bases in the Holly Land Saudi Arabia,Kuwait and Persian gulf.USA want security for Israel.Iran call for destruction of Israel.Syria cries for the UN to get the land they lost back.Israel attacked the nuclear base Syria was building.Syria didn’t dare to retaliate.Now,for Iran to destroy Israel and the Syrian to get their land.obviously Hezbollah is the only tool for them.the consequence of that is pain and suffering of all Lebanese people.Hezbollah established state within state of Lebanon.Lebanese state has no authority on them.they attack Israel.israel attacks them.they declare war on israel.israel respond fiercely with their war machines and leave any time they please ,destruction behind.We cheer victory.still,there is no stability and lot of fear and nervousness.Is that what we mean in victory? Time for Hezbollah to merge in with the state of Lebanon and create a strong and powerful government to defeat the aggression of the enemy.we should look after our self.The Arab world abandoned us in the battle field.Unity is strength and victory will prevale.
Mr Abboud, what military aid has the west given us exept for goggles and torches e.t.c
since the reestablishment of the State of Israel in 1948, Egypt waged war against Yemen, Algeria 200,000 dead Muslims, Lebanon 150,000 dead, Syria 20,000 slaughtered in Hama, Jordan 10,000 palestinians slaughtered, Iraq Iran war 1 MILLION DEAD MUSLIMS, notice who is missing here? NO JEWS!
Dear Lebanese!
We do not want your land, we,Israelis, have nothing to divide with you. Do not believe those, who want us to see each other as an enemy. You are a great nation with antique roots, and we want to live in peace and friendship with you!
Michael,Lebanon is very loving country,hungry for peace and friendship as well as so many people like you in Israel.The outsiders are the enemy of both(LEBANON AND ISRAEL).They have interest their and they would not let it go that easy.We should keep our hopes high,and may God grant us peace and love.
My classmate Tarek lived through one of the bombings on lebanon
as long as Hezbolla acts alone without the approval of the majority of the Lebanese people or government, doing his own work in secret with an agenda more appropriate to Iran than to Lebanon, or even to his own shiite constituents he will remain a serious problem in the eyes of most Lebanese.
his theatrical accord with Michel Aoun served nothing but a pretext to hold on to his weapons indefinitely.
what worries me the most about Hezbollah is not his declared agenda but his covert activities that has nothing to do with the fight against Israel